Supporting device for pottery



May 12, 1931- B.. D. HARDEsTY 1,804,980

SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR POTTERY Filed May 1v. 192s I 2 sheets-sheet 1 9J'gl.

May M12, l931- B. D. HARDEs'rY v l*,84,980

SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR POTTERY Filed -May 17, 1928 2 sheets-sheet 2Patented May 12, 1931 ouin PATENT oFFicE.

BENJAMIN D. HARDESTY, OF BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO MAYERCHINA COMPANY, OF BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA, AY CORPORATION OFIlllN'N,e

SYLVANIA SUPPORTING DEVICE non :Po'iurnrnr` Application mea Mayr 17,192e. seriaiNo. 278,372.

My inventionrelates to the art of burning pottery or ceramic ware inkilns, and particularly to an improved ware support of the crank type.It has in view to provide 5 such a support of minimum size and weightand sov constructed as lto enable a' plurality of them to be used inseries with economy of space, while supporting each piece of ware in thekiln independently, with ample heat circulation space. Also, to providefor the ware a series of isolated stabilizing supporting points oredges, with interfitting engagement between adjacent supports Vensuringmaintenance of position during use.

The construction of the device and lits manner of use and advantages aremore fully -hereinafter described. A y f* Referring tothe drawings: f

Fig. l is a plan view showing the relative arrangement of the supportsand ware;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View on the line II-II of Fig. 1; i

Fig. '3 is a perspective view of the support detached,

Fig. 4 is a front view showing the interfitting connection between thesupporting terminals of the device;y

thel line V-V Fig. 5 is a cross section on of Fig. 2; v

Fig. 6 is a perspective detail view of one of the supporting points. v

In utilizing supporting devices of the kind involved, it is desirable tointerpose between each piece of ware and the next adjacent piece, asupport which will be spaced away from the ware sufficiently far toavoidcontact except at a minimum number of locations and of as limitedarea as possible. Also, to generally conform to the contour of the wareand with ample transverse intervening space for circulation of theheating gases of the kiln. While the particular shape of the suportingdevice transversely ,may bevaried to adapt it approximat ly to theoutline of the ware in cross section, it will be understood that theinvention is not strictly limited to any particular extent of variationfrom a plane transverse area, or as to its size, dimensions, or shape.Onek common which carry form of wareis shownrin vthe drawings, as aplate or dish 2, the middle'portion of rounding rim or edge, and isordinarily provided with Vthe usual supporting rim or bead 3 underneath.v, f y

Each of the series of supporting devices a vertical series of warepieces in the kiln, general comparatively flat tripod constructionhaving three equilaterally rarrangedl arms 4L. These arms middletriangular clearance opening 6, each arm sloping upwardly as at 7, andthen extending downwardly in the form of a verticalterminal foot v,piece8. Each Ysuch foot piece' is adapted to rest upon'the upper `which isusually depressed below the surn is made in skeleton form ofl a .Y l Yv@l0 diverge from a middle j .flat portion 5, preferably provided with aedge portion of the next lower support, and

to provide, by itsvupper edge, a supporting bearing for the next uppersupport;`

For thevr purposeof providing an interlock between' the severalpedestals 8, each is provided atv its upper corner edge portion with a'socket 9, adapted to receive and interfit with `a lower projectingcorrespondingly narrower projection '10.

Projection 10 fits into socket 9 Lwith slight clearance, each socketbeing shouldered .in-

wardly and at eachy side 'laterally'KY so that it will be held againstlateral displacement, especially under the weight of the ware members 2and the superimposed supports.

Forthe purpose of' providing a'pointv or knife edge bearing for theware, or` its lower supporting vrim 3, each arm 4 is provided with aloosely mounted triangular supporting piece or bar 11, having threetapering edges. Each arm 4:' is provided with a depression or socket 12in its upper surface, shouldered yandextending below the upper surfacethereof sov as to efasilypermit thev insertion, with slight clearance,of one ofthe supporting edged elements 11, in a position adapted toengage and carry the ware when when, one support is placed IuponAanother placedl thereon. Because of variations in their outermost,middle, or innermost portions, dependent on conditions.

The supports as thus made are composed of suitable refractory materialas commonly utilized in the pottery art, and are simple in construction,cheap to manufacture, and durable. Because of their three-pointbearings, both as to the support of the ware and supporting connectionwith each other, thesupporting pieces are very easily assembled andtaken apart, and provide a continuous'supporting equilibrium both as tothemselves and their burden. Due to their comparatively limited bodysection and weight, they have a corresponding limited heat absorptivevalue so that their removal from the kiln involves a minimum amount ofheat subtraction therefrom. Their form contributes materially to thesuccessful and economical operation of the kiln, both in manipulation,placement, and removal, while the interlocking construction ensuresstability and avoidance of accidental breakage.

It -will be understood that the device may be made in various sizes,proportions, shapes, etc., to adapt it to any particular 4design orShape of ware, and that various changes or modications may be made inits detail construction by the skilled mechanic, without departing fromthe scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A supporting device for pottery ware consistin of a tripod shapedtriple arm body of seleton form having upwardly sloping ends withdownwardly extending pedestals each provided with an upper socket and alower lug, and having on the upper face of each arm a depressedrectangular shouldered bearing face for a separable ware supportingabutment, and an elongated abutment therein having a flat base seated insaid bearing face with clearance at the ends and sides. j

2. A supporting device for pottery ware consisting of an Yopen centerthree armed frame of refractory material having a flat hollow depressedmiddle portion, a depressed shouldered seat on each arm, a triangularsupporting elongated abutment in each of said seats, and terminalpedestals.

3. A supporting device for potteryl ware consisting of an open centerthree armed frame of refractory material havinga fiat hollowdepressedmiddle portion, a depressed shouldered seat on each arm, a triangularsupporting elongated abutment in each of said seats, and terminalpedestals provided guiar male and female at bottom and top withinterlocking rectanportions respectively, ythe male portion at thebottom of each pedestal being of its full width providing yrectangularshoulders at each side for interfltting engagement in a correspondingupper socket of an adjacent similar pedestal.

4. In a ware support for saggers, a refractory carrier having pluralradial horizontal face arms each provided on its upper face with acorresponding plurality of radially arranged depressed and shoulderedseats, and corresponding triangular bars having flat bases freely seatedtherein with longitudinal and lateral clearance providing upwardlyprojecting contacting radially disposed edges for ware engagement.

5. In a ware support for saggers,'an lopen center one-piece frame ofrefractory material having a depressed flat middle portion and threeradiating arms, each sloping up- ,wardly at its outer portion and thendownwardly of uniform width providing terminal interfitting pedestals,the lower end of each pedestal being substantially rectangular with amiddle shouldered extension, the upper vportion of each pedestal havinga corresponding rectangular depression for engagement of the shoulderedextension of an adjacent pedestal, each radiating arm having in its flatportion adjacent the middle a radially disposed rectangular shouldereddepression, and a supporting bar triangular 1n cross section resting byone of its flat faces in such depression with longitudinal and lateralclearance.

v In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my signature.

BENJAMIN D. HARDESTY.

KOU

